The Surgeon General found that 22% of people experienced oral-facial pain in some form or another within a six month period. The report also estimates that 12.2% of Americans suffer from toothache, 5.3% from jaw joint pain, and 1.4% from face or cheek pain. Many cosmetic dentists estimate that between 25% and 50% of all their work is re-doing work done by other dentists.

“Research the dentists’ services and procedures and be sure that they are skilled and have the experience to deliver what you need”, says Dr. Charles Crane a Sarasota Cosmetic Dentist.

What can happen from poor cosmetic dentistry?

Failing Teeth is a big concern with poor cosmetic dentistry. All decay must be removed prior to inserting the crown or veneer or the result will be large amounts of decay forming. This would require all cosmetic dental procedures to be redone as well as leading to root canals, tooth failure, and even tooth loss.

Mouth and Jaw Pain is another factor to consider in cosmetic dentistry. If the dentist doesn’t align the jaw properly and is an expert in bit alignment, the result will cause the crowns, veneers, and bridges to cracks or even fallout. Patients can also develop TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint Disfunction which will cause severe jaw pain.

Added Expenses will incur as well as loss of time. When you choose your cosmetic dentist, think about the long term gain as well as costs. You may save a little money now, but if you are constantly having repair after repair, the costs add up. Many dentists that charge less are general dentists who market themselves as a cosmetic specialist without putting the time into experience and building their education. In addition they may use lower quality materials and labs to cut the costs. Do you research and choose wisely.

Conclusion

Choosing the right cosmetic dentist takes time. If you are looking for quality and a long term solution, then make sure you invest in the right dentist that will help brighten your smile! For more information on cosmetic dentistry, contact Dr. Charles Crane today to discus your dental procedure.

Many people, whether its for business or pleasure, want to give off an attractive image. Whether it’s making a first impression for a job interview or enjoying that first date, if your smile doesn’t sparkle, you may feel self-conscious. With professional teeth whitening services, Dr. Charles Crane can help you find your perfect smile and brighten your teeth.

Various food, drinks, and age causes tooth discoloration. Teeth whitening will erase stains and give your teeth a dynamic glow. Professional teeth whitening systems can generate fantastic results in a very short time.

Dr. Crane would love to give you that perfect smile. Contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Charles Crane and find out how our teeth whitening services can give you the smile you deserve.

Years ago, you were left in a tough spot with only a few options to choose from. Most of the time, the only choice was a big gap in the middle of your smile. Now, times have changed and advances in science and technology brings you many options for replacing your tooth, such as dental implants.

Dental implants are strong. They are last longer and are much more durable than dentures or bridges and they also help provide stability. They can also helps prevent gum irritation. Mini implants can be used for small or narrow spaces so your teeth appear normal and straight.

Issues in chewing and eating food can be problematic and have a proper dental implant can reduce other medical and digestive problems associated with improperly chewed food. If you are not satisfied with your current smile, you have excess space from missing teeth, or have trouble chewing food, let a professional and expert cosmetic dentist assist in your reconstructive dental needs. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get that smile you’ve dreamed of!

Staying on top of things through dental checkups and cleanings are the best way to avoid any unexpected trouble. Dr. Charles Crane is an experienced and professional dentist in Sarasota, Florida, offering the latest in dental technology and services, so you know you will always be in good hands.

Full service cleanings help reduce and avoid gum disease and cavities, and Dr. Charles Crane is available to answer any questions you may have so there are no unexpected surprises. If you are need of Invisalign or Botox, Dr. Charles Crane is a certified expert and offers the best Sarasota Invisalign and Botox services.

So why not stop by and see us on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota or give us a call at  (941) 388-4114 to schedule your next visit!

Crane began offering this in response to studies revealing that one American dies every hour from oral cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimates about 35,310 new cases of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2008. An estimated 7,590 people will die of these cancers this year.

ViziLite Plus uses a fluorescent light that scans the inside of the mouth to detect cancerous and precancerous tissue that might not be apparent to the naked eye. It also identifies tissue changes at their earliest stage. After ViziLite Plus has scanned the area, normal healthy tissue will absorb the light and appear dark, while abnormal tissue will appear white.

Recently, Crane performed oral cancer screenings at the Datolli Men’s Health Rally, and his team will be at the Lakewood Ranch Efest Nov. 15-16 to perform oral cancer screenings and other free services. Crane has a mobile unit and team to do screenings on location.

Now there is another option- dental implants.

Sarasota Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Charles Crane likens root canal therapy to that of saving a dead tree.

“The tree can remain in the ground and stay there, but it is not alive,” Crane said. “It is brittle and dry. You could still hang lights on it, but I certainly wouldn’t hang a tree swing or anything that would cause it extreme duress.”

Teeth are the same way, he said. When a nerve gets infected, the pulp, blood vessels and nerves are taken out and the canal is filled. Root canals are very complex, with many small branches off the main canal.

Like the dead tree, that tooth ceases to be as strong as it once was. However, the tooth can remain and function. This usually is accomplished with a full coverage restoration around it to give it further strength in the event that it was badly compromised. This fix sometimes can last an additional 15 to 20 years if properly cared for.

Root canals often have to be performed on the molars because they are the “working teeth” with the deep grooves that as younger children, often were difficult to keep clean, Crane said. These teeth were subject to decay, followed by fillings. If silver fillings were involved, they sometimes leaked and broke down over time. For that reason, it’s not uncommon that eventually some of these teeth would be in need of root canal therapy.

It’s important to note that root canals are not a 100 percent guarantee that a patient’s tooth can be salvaged. Sometimes the root canal therapy doesn’t take, he said. If the root canal fails, there are options to re-treat. The success rate for re-treatment of root canal teeth is less than 50 percent.

An apicoectomy may be needed when an infection develops or persists after root canal treatment or re-treatment. Because root canals have many small branches off the main canal, sometimes infected debris can remain in these branches and possibly prevent healing or cause re-infection later, according to www.colgate.com. In an apicoectomy, the root tip, or apex, is removed along with the infected tissue. A filling is then placed to seal the end of the root. This procedure sometimes is referred to as endodontic microsurgery because the procedure is done under an operating microscope.

Implants As An Alternative

Implants were considered “cutting edge technology” as early as 10 years ago, so re-treatments remained “very good options instead of losing a tooth and then involving bridges and other prosthodontic measures,” Crane said. However, dental implantshave earned a good reputation as a viable alternative to re-treatment, due to their successful track record.

In fact, root canal re-treatment often is referred to as “pre-implant” therapy, Crane said.

Patients who are facing possible re-treatment should consult with a restorative dentist to have the broken, old or failing root canal teeth evaluated.

“The restorative dentist who understands full mouth rehabilitation and occlusion will look at the forces that area of the bite receives and let you know if surgery and crown lengthening procedures are your best avenue, or if the probability of saving that tooth is not worth the cost and extra procedures for a sometimes 50 percent success rate,” Crane said. “They also can determine if you are a candidate for an implant and whether it is cost-effective to place an implant that will last you the rest of your life.”

All of these procedures mentioned earlier are available to people who want to restore and keep their teeth, but in cases where “duck tape” no longer is a good option and replacing a tooth makes more sense for the long-term, it’s a good idea to consider dental implants.

Titanium used for knee and hip replacements is a good indication of how people today replace things that are worn out and have outlived their current usefulness. This technology enables patients to continue to experience active, successful lifestyles.

“The same can be said of dental implants,” he said. “You can replace what once was and have very successful results.”

This program promises to offer something for everyone. Discounts vary according to each event. Upcoming events in which discounts are available include:

Nov 3- WWE

Nov. 10- Celtic Thunder

Nov. 14- Trans Siberian Orchestra

Nov. 16- Sarah Brightman

Nov. 22- The Wiggles

Dec. 5- XFC (not on sale yet)

Jan 7-11- Ringling Brothers Circus (not on sale yet)

Jan. 28- Celine Dion

Jan. 31- Dane Cook

Feb. 8- Extreme Ice Racing

Feb. 27- Harlem Globetrotters

March 1- Smuckers Stars On Ice (not on sale yet)

June 25-July 5- Cirque Du Soliel “Saltimbanco” (not on sale yet)

In addition to receiving discounts on many performances, our patients also will avoid the TicketMaster fees on ALL performances at the St. Pete Times Forum.

If you are interested in purchasing tickets, just mention Dr. Crane when you e-mail Alison Namour,anamour@sptimesforum.com or call (813) 301-6683 for more information.

Entries were to show noticeable cosmetic improvement that showcased member dentists’ and laboratories’ cosmetics skills and talents, according to the FACD Web site. Entries were judged by a panel of peers and the gold medals were awarded for “providing the best in clinical cosmetic dentistry,” according to the certificate presented by FACD President Dr. Howard Chasolen. “It’s always an honor and a privilege to be recognized by your peers for providing excellent cosmetic dentistry care,” Crane said. Crane occasionally enters contests such as this so that current and potential patients can see that he provides quality care, said Practice Manager Ann White.

“It’s one thing for us to tell patients about the level and quality of our services,” White said. “I think that sometimes it means more to patients when they can see that outside, objective sources corroborate what we say.”

For that reason, there is a significant segment of the population that views cosmetic dentistry as a luxury they can’t afford. Sarasota Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Charles Crane said that when people view cosmetic dentistry in that light, they typically aren’t thinking of the long-term ramifications of short-changing themselves on dental care. “Studies and medical research increasingly show that oral health affects many aspects of overall health from diabetes and heart disease to the ability for people to properly nourish themselves,” Crane said.

For those reasons, Crane and his staff have found that educating and helping his patients understand their dental coverage is a great starting point in assisting them on their journey to a healthy, beautiful smile. Part of the time, it means addressing the dental issue from a common sense standpoint. “You don’t neglect getting your oil changed in your new car because you don’t have ‘oil change’ insurance,” Crane said. “You don’t delay getting your hair cut because you lack ‘hair cut’ insurance.” There are countless tasks people carry out without much thought and without “insurance” coverage plans, but people often will neglect their mouths and oral health because of the lack of dental coverage.

In best case scenarios, insurance may cover only a portion of a procedure. Patients who want, need and value the procedure shouldn’t allow their dental insurance benefits to determine what is best for them in the way of treatment, he said. Crane’s practice focuses on restorative and cosmetic dentistry and his approach is more comprehensive than most general dentistry practices. “We don’t chase tooth-at-a-time emergencies,” Crane said. “We examine the entire health of the mouth and create a comprehensive plan.” Some patients might read that and think that means more expensive trips to the dentist, but to the contrary, when oral health is approached comprehensively, dollars can be spent more efficiently and effectively.

The Truth About Dental Insurance

Patients who have dental insurance and fully understand the coverage can maximize those benefits and the money spent while achieving long term dental health.

Many people don’t understand that their benefits have a cap for each year, per person covered and that amount often is not as much as they may think, said Ann White, Crane’s office administrator. It typically is between $1,000 and $1,500 per year. Unlike medical insurance, people think their benefits cover 60 to 80 percent of the entire bill.

It will cover 40 to 80 percent of the “approved or usual and customary fee” up to their “cap,” White said, adding that this is a widely misunderstood notion. Also, their benefits expire yearly, so if they do not use their benefits, that $1,000 to $1,500 does not roll over and accumulate, it is gone. The clock starts over.

Another issue is that dental insurance often covers and approves lower grade materials- materials that may have to be replaced again within two to five years because of their substandard quality.

“Our office uses the highest quality materials and care,” Crane said. “Other offices that are enrolled in dental insurance plans often will not present to a patient the better, healthier and more aesthetic materials, since they will not get paid.”

That means the doctor limits the dental options to those that insurance will pay for.

“When it comes to extensive dental work, the patient should be given a choice of treatment options once they understand how limited their dental insurance coverage is,” he said.

Payment Options

Because patients end up paying significant out-of-pocket expenses for many cosmetic dentistry procedures, financing companies have created options to make paying for those procedures a bit easier.

For example, Crane’s office uses Capital One credit for patients who choose not to pay for services in full at the time of the procedure. These plans typically offer interest-free time frames in which patients can pay off balances without penalty.

The interview is the result of Crane and his staff discovering that whitening approaches don’t render the same results for everyone.

“We have found that shade ranges on patients’ teeth whiten better when we utilize certain systems,” Crane said. “While other cosmetic dentists may choose to put everyone through the same system, we’ve chosen to take the extra time to decide which specific approach will work best for each individual.”

Crane recently began offering complimentary whitening consultations to office visitors to decide on the best path to take based on their teeth, their budget and their final desired outcome.

Crane has found that teeth with yellow stains respond well to in-office systems, while brown stains respond better to more involved deep bleaching over several sessions. Teeth that are gray in color have not been shown to bleach well. Instead, Crane recommends patients with this coloring save their money on traditional treatments and consider alternative options such as bonding or porcelain veneers.

“Before you invest money in whitening systems, you should be confident that you will get results,” Crane said. “This interview is meant to increase the amount of success we see and decrease the chances that patients will have to try several failed avenues before seeing results.”